Cambodia (NW) - Angkor Wat temples, Battambang city surrounds

Most roundabouts in Cambodia have statues .  This one is in the city of Battambang (NW Cambodia).  Legend has it a farmer found a black bamboo pole and he used it to stir cooking rice.  The rice turned black and noone wanted to eat it so he ate it himself.  Then he turned completely black and realised the pole had magic powers.  When later fighting with a holy man he threw the pole which then disappeared.  Battambang means "lost pole" in Khmer.

Bamboo platform on a set of small train wheels with a 6HP motor.  The Cambodian railway is not officially in service so locals have cobbled together their own rolling stock.

Fruit bats about a foot in height

1000 year old steps to mountain-top Banan temple 28km south of Battambang city

Banan Temple

Typical countryside residence in Cambodia surrounded by rice fields

Natural limestone arch of Phnom Sampeau

Very typical roadside drink/snack store.  Appeared to be the family's home too.

Banan temple

Thirsty time

Angkor Wat Region

Hundreds of temples and elaborate old city structures in the Angkor region are spread out over about 200 square kms north of Siem Reap city (NW Cambodia).  The mind boggles with  how much man power would have been needed to build these 1000 years ago.  And, there's also so much fine detail when you look close plus kms of man made dykes, canals, irrigation.  At its peak the Angkor city region had a population of 1 million when London had around 50,000.  The Angkorian period spans the period AD 802 to 1432.

 This is the western gateway to the 10squarekm walled city of Angkor Thom

Southern gateway to Angkor Thom

 Bayon Temple within Angkor Thom city with 216 coldly smiling faces looking down from every angle over the city

Bayon temple from the front

Ta Prohm temple has a real medieval feel with plants growing up, over and through the ruins.

You can see why parts of Tomb Raider were filmed around here.

The famous Angkor Wat.  This photo doesn't do it justice.  As you get close you find the spires are really soaring high up in the sky.

Angkor Wat inner structure

Angkor Wat main spire (the floor Keiko is standing on is part of the temple roughly 50m above ground)

 Ta Keo temple from the front.

Ta Keo temple steps - very steep and a bit treacherous.